Channeled end gate

ABSTRACT

A channeled end gate for use with a standard stock rack and having a plurality of vertically spaced, horizontally disposed, slats secured to spaced uprights with elongated channels disposed over the ends of the slats wherein the gate is vertically movable in the slideway of the end wall of the rack.

United States Patent Steinke 1 CHANNELED END GATE [76] Inventor: MyrelR. Steinke, Culbertson, Nebr.

[22] Filed: June 12, 1972 [21] Appl. No; 261,714

[52] US. Cl. 49/404, 49/360 [51] Int. Cl E05f 15/16 {58] Field of Search49/347, 360, 301, 302,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 357,275 2/1887 Ellis 49/347[451 July 2,1974

7/1968 Case 49/360 X Primary Examiner-Kenneth Downey Attorney, Agent, orFirmHenderson & Strom 5 7 ABSTRACT A channeled end gate for use with astandard stock rack and having a plurality of vertically spaced,horizontally disposed, slats secured to spaced uprights with elongatedchannels disposed over the ends of the slats wherein the gate isvertically movable in the slideway of the end wall of the rack.

1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures Webster 256/73 PATENTEDJUL 21914 3 821 865sum 1 or 2 PATENFEDJUL 2 1914 31821355 SHEEI 2- 0f 2 h M n o o o oCHANNELED END GATE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION within the guidesprovided by the metal channels during vertical displacement and residein the channels when in place, blocking the opening and preventinghorizontal excursions of the gate.

' When the end gate is in use, the slats of the gate are subjected toforce and abuse by livestock confined within the stock rack. Repeatedimpact to individual slats causes splitting to occur at the slat ends.Such splitting weakens the security of the gate, as well as impedes theease of insertion, removal and operation by binding within the channels.

End gates made of wood can warp because of either the quality of woodused in its construction, because of continuous exposure to atmosphericconditions and because of exposure to an animal envirnm'ent Paint andother protective coatings are applied to the gate to preventdeterioration however normal and abnormal use causes the coating to wearand ultimately, bare wood is exposed. Even with the highest quality ofwoods, moisture will be absorbed by the slats and they will expand,crack and warp. Any deterioration of the slats can substantially impedethe ease of operation of the gate in the guide or slideway'and causeunnecessary replacement or repairs.

As conventional stock racks are equipped with rackmounted channels, thesimplest approach with respect to manufacture, installation and use,would be to employ the presence of the stock rack metal channels with animproved and novel gate which would substantially 7 SUMMARY OF TI-IEINVENTION This invention is a channeled end gate for a stock BRIEFDESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings, although variousmodifications and alternate constructions can be made thereto withoutdeparting from the true spirit and scope of the invention, a preferredembodiment of the invention is illustrated, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the rear end of a stock rack withthe channeled end gate partially vertically displaced; j

FIG. 2 is a top partial plan view of the rear end of the stock rack withthe channeled end gate mounted therein;

FIG. 3-is a front elevational view of the partially as-. sembledchanneled end gate; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the lines 4-4 in FIG. 3.

' DESCRIPTION or THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings,the channeled end gate 10 (FIG. 1)of this invention is disclosed incombination with a conventional stock rack which is generally mounted ona truck body or the like. A conventional stock rack includes a forwardwall, two side walls and an end wall, each connected at its edges to anadjacentwall to form an enclosure. Only the end wall 11 of the stockrack is illustrated since the end gate 10 of this invention is operablyconnected thereto and is a part rack and in particular, for a standardstock rack on a truck, which end gate is kept from binding, or the slatsfrom splitting by the use of gate-mounted metal channels.

It is an object of this invention to prevent binding of the gate duringinsertion, removal and operation.

Another object of this invention is the distribution'of force to allslats of an end gate when an individual slatis struck.

A further object of this invention is to substantially prevent splittingof the ends of the slats of an end gate.

Yet another object of this invention is durability and increased usefullife of the end gate.

Still another object of this invention is to provide greater security incontaining livestock in a stock rack.

A further object of this invention is the provision for ease of removaland insertion and vertical displacement of the gate in a stock rack.

thereof. The end wall 11 includes two spaced apart end sections 12 and13 and the vertically slidable end gate 10. Each end section includes apair of spaced, vertically disposed posts 14 and l6 having a pluralityof horizontally extending, vertically spaced slats 17 securedtherebetween. Secured to each post 14 is a U-shaped metal channel18,(FIGS. l and 2) wherein the open side of the channels 18 are inalignment and facejeach other thus providing a slideway 19 for the endgate 10.'

The end gate 10 (FIGS. 1 and 3) includes a pair of spaced uprightmembers 21 and 22 and a plurality of horizontally disposed, verticallyspaced slats 23. Each slat 23 is secured to both uprights 21 and 22 by asuitable fastening unit such as a screw 24 (FIG; 4). In addition, theend gate 10 has a pair of upright U-shaped channels 26 and 27 (FIG. 1)disposed over the ends of each slat 23 with the base wall 28 (FIG. 4) ofeach channel disposed over the slat ends and the side walls 29 disposedover a portion of the sides of the slat. Spaced holes (not shown) aredrilled through the channels 26 and 27 in alignment with holes (notshown) rope 30 is secured to the top of one end section 12, passed overthe pulley 34 and a second pulley 35 which is secured to the top of theother end section 13, and the free end is releasably secured to aholding bracket 40 attached to the lower end of the other end section13, thus a pull on the free end of the rope will cause the gate tovertically rise on the channels 18.

The end gate (FIGS. 1 and 2) is slidably mounted on the end wall 11between the slideway 19 with the channels 26 and 27 normally disposed inthe channels 18 of the slideway. With the ends of slats protected by thechannels 26 and 27 and securely fastened between the sidewalls thereofmoisture will not cause an expansion of the end slats. Furthermore,after considerable use wherein the gate is slid up and down in theslideway the ends will not splinter or wear. In addition pressureagainst the gate or the kicking of a slat by an animal penned in therack will not readily cause a slat end to break, as the force will betransmitted from the slat to other slats and the channels 26 and 27 bythe rivits and the channel. It should therefore now be apparent that thechanneled end gate will substantially increase the life of the gate inthe slideway and substantially decrease the splintering or wearing ofany slat.

Although reference has been made to the use of certain materials, it isnot intended to limit the invention thereby, accordingly other materialscould readily be substituted in the construction of the end gate.

I claim:

1. A channeled and gate for use with a stock rack having an openingformed therein, the gate comprising:

a pair of vertically disposed U shaped guides secured to the rack at thesides of the opening thus forming a slideway in which a gate can beslidably mounted for providing access into the rack;

a plurality of horizontally disposed slats;

at least one vertically disposed upright member secured to each saidslat thus forming a gate; and

a pair of parallel, vertically disposed channel means secured over theends of said slats and slidably mounted in said guides, each saidchannel means having a U shape formed by a base wall and a pair ofparallel side walls secured to said base wall thus providing a channeltherebetween with a portion of each said slat disposed in said channelwith said base wall abutting said slat ends and said side walls injuxtaposition with said slat side walls adjacent said slat ends, saidchannel means thus preventing the ends of said slats from becomingdistorted due to absorption of moisture or splitting due to externalforces.

1. A channeled end gate for use with a stock rack having an opening formed therein, the gate comprising: a pair of vertically disposed U shaped guides secured to the rack at the sides of the opening thus forming a slideway in which a gate can be slidably mounted for providing access into the rack; a plurality of horizontally disposed slats; at least one vertically disposed upright member secured to each said slat thus forming a gate; and a pair of parallel, vertically disposed channel means secured over the ends of said slats and slidably mounted in said guides, each said channel means having a U shape formed by a base wall and a pair of parallel side walls secured to said base wall thus providing a channel therebetween with a portion of each said slat disposed in said channel with said base wall abutting said slat ends and said side walls in juxtaposition with said slat side walls adjacent said slat ends, said channel means thus preventing the ends of said slats from becoming distorted due to absorption of moisture or splitting due to external forces. 